Monroe College School of Education Expanding Enrollment for Fall to Meet Growing Need of Teachers for New York City's Universal Pre-Kindergarten Initiative

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Monroe College Prepares Students to Meet Qualifications for Becoming Pre-K Teachers

New Rochelle, NY (PRWEB)June 03, 2014

Monroe College, a national leader in urban and international education, today announced that its School of Education is expanding enrollment into its Bachelor of Science degree program in Early Childhood Education for the fall semester, to meet the increased demand for educators created by the introduction of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s universal pre-kindergarten program.

The mayor’s new initiative is expected to provide free, high-quality, full-day pre-K to over 73,000 children in New York City by the 2015-2016 school year, beginning with some 53,000 in the fall of 2014. Monroe prepares students to meet the qualifications for becoming a pre-kindergarten teacher by offering the required bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and assisting with thorough preparation for the state’s new Teacher Certification Exams. Students also gain double the amount of student teaching experience required by New York State, completing more than 500 hours of real-world instruction by working with children at local nursery schools, daycare facilities, and primary schools throughout the course of their studies.

The school also maintains a partnership with the AmeriCorps Jumpstart Program, an early childhood education organization that trains college students to serve preschool children in low-income neighborhoods, providing students with the opportunity to complete over 300 hours of teaching experience in pre-kindergarten classes, in exchange for tuition support or a direct salary. Monroe is one of 17 schools in the tri-state area to partner with Jumpstart.

“Students enrolled in our early childhood education program are in a position to capitalize on their real-world teaching experience and enter a field that is undergoing rapid expansion as the city implements its universal pre-kindergarten initiative,” said Stephen Jerome, president of Monroe College. “Our bachelor’s degree program prepares students for meaningful jobs as future educators by equipping them with the requisite knowledge, skills and experience to become successful, impactful teachers that can make a difference in the lives of others.”

Students interested in early childhood education who would like to learn more about the application process to Monroe College, recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the most affordable ranked private college in New York State, can contact the admissions office at 1-800-556-6676 or email Anne Lillis, Acting Dean of the School of Education at alillis(at)monroecollege(dot)edu.

Founded in 2011, Monroe’s School of Education provides future teachers with a solid foundation in all areas of child development, focusing in particular on the special needs of urban students and those who come from high-needs areas. Taught by a faculty of active and retired teachers, superintendents and education directors, who bring over 100 years of service to the classroom, students learn general and advanced principles of cognitive, physical and affective development. Graduates of the school are placed in suburban and city schools, including both public, private and parochial institutions. To learn more about Monroe College’s School of Education, please visit here.

The universal pre-kindergarten program initiative, proposed by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, was approved earlier this year with Albany’s passage of the state’s 2014-2015 budget. It allocates $300 million to be used toward providing universal prekindergarten in the city. You can read more about this initiative by clicking here, or by reading the proposed implementation plan prepared by the Office of the Mayor, Office of Management and Budget, and Department of Education here.

ABOUT MONROE COLLEGE

Founded in 1933, New York-based Monroe College is a nationally ranked private institution of higher learning with a student-centric learning approach that prioritizes hands-on academic experiences, practical and relevant academic programs, flexible learning schedules, best-in-class instructional technologies, and committed and engaged faculty to ensure that students are well positioned for career success upon graduation. Monroe College graduates more minority students than any other college in New York State.

Monroe College offers Certificate, Associate, Bachelor's, and Master's degree programs. It has campuses in the Bronx, New Rochelle, as well as in the Caribbean nation of St. Lucia, with programs offered through its Schools of Criminal Justice, Information Technology, Nursing, Education, Business & Accounting, Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts, and Allied Health Professions, as well as through its liberal arts and continuing education programs, and its King Graduate School. The institution was listed in the fall of 2013 by U.S. News & World Report as the most affordable ranked private college in New York State. For more information and admissions criteria, please visit http://www.monroecollege.edu.